Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Pusha T cuts ties with G.O.O.D Music label over Kanye West antisemitic comments

Pusha and Kanye were friends and collaborators, but the rapper says that they’re no longer speaking

Megan Graye
Tuesday 20 December 2022 10:41 EST
Comments
Tucker Carlson praises Infowars host Alex Jones

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Pusha T has cut ties with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music and confirmed that he is no longer president at the label.

The rapper says that he has dissociated himself from long term friend and collaborator West, following his recent antisemitic comments.

After disagreeing on their views over the phone, the pair have not spoken, revealed Pusha in a cover interview with XXL.

“He’s not speaking to me now. If you ain’t with it, you ain’t down. And I ain’t with it. I’m not budging on that. I’m not with it,” said Pusha during the interview.

At the beginning of December, West, who’d already been dumped by the likes of Adidas, GAP and Balenciaga  said  “I like Hitler” while on InfoWars podcast.

While host Alex Jones interviewed Kanye and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, West repeatedly praised the Nazi leader.

Pusha apparently believes that his former friend’s recent behaviour indicates mental ill health.

“I heard about this new stuff [comments on InfoWars]. I don’t know. It’s something that just sort of tells me he’s not well, at the same time. I will say that,” he said.

“It’s going to places where it’s no way to move around it,” he added.

Pusha said West’s comments had affected him and called ‘sh** that’s being said’ at the moment ‘beyond disappointing’
Pusha said West’s comments had affected him and called ‘sh** that’s being said’ at the moment ‘beyond disappointing’ (Getty Images)

Elsewhere in the interview the rapper confirmed that he was no longer associated with G.O.O.D Music, but said that he still had a “50/50 venture with Def Jam”.

Pusha went on to recall the last time he and West had spoken over the phone while Pusha was on tour.

“I just expressed myself. I express myself to him a lot. He expressed his thoughts to me. And he got off the phone saying, “Thank you. I know you don’t agree with me, but you never kill me in the public. And some people can’t wait to do that,” he remembered.

“We started working together in 2010. So, my relationship with him has never been like everybody else’s in regard to the filter. I never had a filter with him,” he said.

“I’ve always spoke my mind. People gotta remember, too. This isn’t new for me,  when it comes to disagreeing with him politically and things like that,” he added.

Pusha went on to admit that West’s comments had affected him and called “sh** that’s being said” at the moment “beyond disappointing”.

“It’s wrong. Period. But to me, it’s just me and him having a difference of opinion yet again. ’Cause we done had this for years’,” Pusha said.

When asked about the rapper’s tendency to disagree with each other, Pusha told XXL: “He knows I will do everything I gotta do and wanna do.

“In regard to anything that jeopardises my look, my pride, anything. He knows that. He knows there’s no talking me off any ledges. He just can’t do it,” he added.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in